COACHING LEGEND JOHNSON HOPES TO FIND WAY TO ANOTHER TITLE

This one is sweet for El Camino High boys basketball coach Ray Johnson, and not because it’s No. 16.

“I’ve been there,” Johnson said as he prepares for yet another CIF San Diego Section final. “But what makes it special is that I wanted this group to get there and enjoy it. I wanted it for them more than anything else.”

Careful what you wish for, Coach, and may we introduce you to Mission Hills’ Kameron Rooks?

The Grizzlies’ 7-foot center will be waiting when No. 2-seeded El Camino (26-5) tangles with top seed Mission Hills (26-4) Saturday night for the Division I title at Viejas Arena.

For Johnson, making the finals is old hat, as he nears his 16th championship appearance. But the winningest basketball coach in section history is seeking his first crown since 2009.

That had him reaching for a map, soon after he read the stat sheet that revealed a thrilling 56-52 semifinal win over visiting Torrey Pines on Wednesday.

“I don’t even know if I can find my way anymore,” said Johnson, who has won eight titles since his first one in 1986. “I might need directions. I used to have a grooved road going right there.”

He’s got a groovy squad, one that is as young and inconsistent as it is fearless.

Falling behind 7-0 out of the gate on Wednesday? No problem. Eyeing a 10-point halftime deficit? No sweat.

While his charges were calm, Johnson maintained a look of constant consternation. He took turns badgering the refs, motivating his players, and jawing with his assistants. Johnson is as much fun to watch as the game itself as he kicks his legs, stomps his feet, and shoots his arms in the air.

And that’s just during the national anthem.

A stretch, but not by much.

“He likes to have fun with us,” poised point guard Imanni Sobers said. “But when it’s time to get serious, it’s time to get serious.”

No joke, playing for Johnson is a no-nonsense affair. But after the final buzzer, there’s Johnson clicking with the teenagers in a manner that separates him from others.

Maybe it’s from his years of teaching disabled students. Maybe it’s his love for the players, which rivals his all-out passion for the game. Maybe it’s just, as assistant Phil Arvidson said, “Ray being Ray.”

“He comes down to our level,” Sobers said. “He coaches with us. He revolves the game around on what we can do and doesn’t say ‘run this, run that.’ He will run (the offense) based off our perspective or what we do in our game.

“It’s not just his show; it’s the team’s show.”

The rambunctious Wildcats boosters were doing their best Show imitation on Wednesday, mimicking the frenzied student section at San Diego State basketball games. The El Camino crew chanted “I believe that we can win” despite the scoreboard showing otherwise.

Win El Camino did, but it wasn’t clear until the final minute. When Dakota Orr converted a driving layup with 30 seconds left, Johnson jumped so high that some feared he would smash the framed jersey signifying his 700th victory, hung near the Wildcats’ bench.

When Johnson caught his postgame breath, he realized that the next opponent, led by Rooks, could quickly take it away.

“Rooks is a hard matchup for anybody,” Johnson said. “So we will try to figure it out.”

Go figure, but it’s not surprising that Johnson’s players have his back.

“As long as we pay attention to the legendary Coach Johnson,” Sobers said, “nothing is impossible.”